Racetrack amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device simulating a racetrack wherein the top of the frame is provided with a plurality of strips mounted for reciprocating movement. A motor and gear train rotate a rod positioned transversely below the strips, the rod being provided with spokes which contact flanges depending from the strips sequentially moving the strips which thereafter return to their original position by the action of springs. Simultaneously, the motor and gear train rotate a plurality of gears provided with offset bearing surfaces against which other flanges depending from the strips bear. Since the offset bearing surfaces are staggered, the distance of the return stroke of each strip varies. A racing figurine, for example, a horse, is positioned on each of the strips. As the stroke of each reciprocating strip continuously varies, the speed of each racing figurine continuously varies. In this manner the results of each race are new providing a source of continuing amusement for the user, adult or child.

United States Patent [191 Asano [54] RACETRACK AMUSEMENT DEVICE [75] Inventor: Kiyozi Asano, Sumida-ku, Tokyo,

, Japan [73] Assignee: Shinsei Kogyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 237,731

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Staas, Halsey & Gable 5 7 ABSTRACT An amusement device simulating a racetrack wherein the top of the frame is provided with a plurality of strips mounted for reciprocating movement. A motor and gear train rotate a rod positioned transversely below the strips, the rod being provided with spokes which contact flanges depending from the strips sequentially moving the strips which thereafter return to their original position by the action of springs. Simultaneously, the motor and gear train rotate a plurality of gears provided with offset bearing surfaces against which other flanges depending from the strips bear. Since the offset bearing surfaces are staggered, the distance of the return stroke of each strip varies. A racing figurine, for example, a horse, is positioned on each of the strips. As the stroke of each reciprocating strip continuously varies, the speed of each racing figurine continuously varies. In this manner the results of each race are new providing a source of continuing amusement for the user, adult or child.

4C1aims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented May 29, 1973 3,735,984

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill" Patented May 29, 1973 Patented May 29, 1973 3,735,84

4 Sheets-Sheet 15 Patented May 29, 1913 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 RACETRACK AMUSEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the general class of toys simulating a track along which vehicles or animals race.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The frame of the racetrack is provided with starting and finishing gates at opposite ends thereof. Between the starting andfinishing positions are provided a plurality of strips mounted for reciprocating movement, the strips normally being biased towards the starting gate. An electrical motor and gear train located within the frame causes each of the strips to reciprocate with a continually varying stroke. On each of the reciprocating strips is positioned a racing figurine, for example, a horse. The reciprocating movement of the strips causes the horses to move forward from the starting gate to the finish line. Since the stroke of each strip varies the speed of movement of each racing figurine varies. Variation in the length of the stroke of each reciprocating strip is achieved by a series of gears mounted directly below the strips, the gears running at uniform speed. Each of the gears isprovided with an offset bearing surface against which a flange depending from the bottom of each strip bears. In this manner, as the offset bearing surface of each gear rotates the degree of movement of the strip varies. The strips are caused to move toward the finish gate by the action of a rotating rod'located transversely of the strips, the rod being provided with a series of spokes which contact and push forward a series of other flanges depending from the strips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toy racetrack illustrating the reciprocating strips upon which .the toy horses are positioned for movement and the starting and fin ishing gates;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the racetrack;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the finishing gate;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating entry of the racing horse into the finishing gate, at' which time the flag of the winning horse is automatically raised to display the number of the winner;

FIG. 5 isa partial perspective view illustrating the starting gate; I FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a portion of the racetrack illustrating the motor, gear train spiked rotating wheel for sequentially moving each of the reciprocating strips and the rotating gears equipped with offset bearing surrelationship to the depending flanges of the strips for determining the stroke of reciprocation;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single reciprocating strip spring biased towards the starting gate and the rotating spiked wheel and gear wheel with offset bearing portion for reciprocating the strip against the force of the spring and determining the distance of the stroke; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a portion of one of the reciprocating strips illustrating forward movement of the horse positioned thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame of the racetrack is generally designated by reference numeral 10. At one end of the frame 10 is provided a starting gate 12 while at the other end thereof is located the finishing gate 14. A plurality of strips 16 are mounted for reciprocating movement within cavities 18 formed longitudinally within the frame 10, as seen in FIG. 7.

The mechanism for causing the strips 16 to sequentially reciprocate with varying, pre-determined stroke will now be described, particularly with reference to FIGS. 6-9. A chassis 20 is appropriately mounted within the frame 10 for supporting a miniature electric motor 22 of conventional design. The shaft of the motor 22 terminates in a pinion wheel 24 which meshes with and rotates a gear wheel 26 mounted upon shaft 28. Rotation of the gear wheel 26 in turn causes rotation of a smaller gear wheel 30 formed as a part of gear wheel 26. Gear wheel 30 meshes with the gear wheel 32 to which is attached a rod 34 positioned transversely of the row of reciprocating strips 16. The rod 34 and gear wheel 32 are mounted for rotation about a shaft 36 suitably joumaled within the chassis 20 and the frame 10. The rod 34 is provided with a plurality of staggered fingers 38 positioned adjacent the strips 16. In turn, the strips 16 are provided with depending flanges 40 adjacent the fingers 38, as seen in Fingers 8 and 9; Finally, each of the strips 16 is resiliently biased towards the starting gate 12 by the action of spring elements 42, one end of each spring 42 being attached to supports 44 formed as an integral part of the strip 16 while the other end thereof is secured appropriately to the frame 10, as seen in FIG. 9.

As will now be apparent, operation of the motor 22 causes rod 34 to rotate through the action of gears 24, 26, 30 and 32. In sequence, each of the fingers 38 of the rotating rod 34 is moved into contact with its corresponding depending flange 40 pushing each strip 16 forward against the action of the spring 42. As the rod 34 continues to rotate and each of the fingers 38 disengages from its corresponding depending flange 40 each strip 16 is permitted to move backwardly into its original position by the force of its spring 42. As the fingers 38 are spaced at different positions along the rod 34 the strips are reciprocated at different time intervals.

The system for varying the stroke of the reciprocation of the strips 16 will now be described, again with particular reference to FIGS. 6-9. A gear wheel 46 is formed as an integral part of the gear wheel 32, as seen in FIG. 6, and meshes with and rotates a gear wheel 48 mounted for rotation about shaft 50. Formed as an integral part of the gear wheel 48 is a smaller gear wheel 52 which meshes with and rotates a gear wheel 54 mounted upon a shaft 56 appropriately joumaled within the chassis 20 and frame 10. A series of gear wheels 58 is positioned along the shaft 56 and engages a corresponding series of gear wheel assemblies 60. Each of the gear wheel assemblies 60 is formed with a cylindrical portion 61 which fits loosely around a shaft 62 appropriately journaled within the chassis 20 and frame 10. Formed as an integral part of each gear wheel assembly 60 is a bearing or cam surface 64 offset from the cylindrical portion 61 and shaft 62. Each of the reciprocating strips 16 is further provided with a second depending flange 66 normally held in abutting relation against its corresponding bearing or cam surface 64 by the action of its spring 42.

As will now be apparent, the rotation of gear wheel 46 causes the gear wheel 48 to rotate in turn causing the gear wheel 52 to rotate the gear wheel 54 which causes the shaft 56 to rotate. As shaft 56 rotates each of the gear wheels 58 meshes with and rotates each of the segmented gear wheel assemblies 60. It is to be noted that since the gear wheel assemblies 60, 60', etc. are separated from each other along the shaft 62 their rotation is independent. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, after each finger 38 disengages from its corresponding flange 40, the strip 16 is forced backwardly by the action of the spring 42. The distance the strip 16 moves backwardly is determined by the position of the bearing or cam surface 64. That is, the strip 16 moves backwardly or to the left as seen in FIG. 8 until the depending arm 66 strikes the bearing or cam surface 64. At the point of rotation illustrated in FIG. 8 maximum reciprocation of the strip 16 is permitted. If on the other hand, for example, the bearing or cam surface 64 as illustrated in FIG. 8 is rotated 180 the depending flange 66 cannot travel as far backward before hitting the bearing or cam surface 64, thus shortening the stroke of the strip 16. As will be apparent from FIG. 6, the position of the bearing or cam surfaces 64 of the various gear wheel assemblies 60 are staggered so as to continuously vary the stroke of the strips 16.

The starting gate 12 is illustrated in FIG. and includes walls'70 forming stalls within which the racing figurines are positioned. The barrier 72 is pivotably mounted to the frame 10. As will be apparent, the racing figurines are positioned on the strips 16 within the stalls and the barrier 72 rotated to the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 2. The motor -22 is then activated by a conventional electrical switch which may be mounted on top of the frame 10. Thereafter, the barrier 72 is rotated upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5 permitting the racing figurines to leave the starting gate 12 in unison.

The finish gate 14 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes walls 74 forming stalls into which the racing figurines enter. Within each stall is located a movable carriage for receiving the racing figurine 76, now described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.'The carriage includes a bottom shelf 78 pivotably mounted about the shaft 80 which is suitably secured to the frame 10. Pivotably mounted to the bottom shelf 78 about the shaft 82 is the rear wall 84 which terminates at its upper end in a shaft 86 suitably secured to the cover 88. Each of the stalls is provided with the movable carriage comprising the pivotably connected bottom shelf 78, rear wall 84 and cover 88. Within the top of the finishing gate 14 is a single shaft 90 suitably journaledwithin the sidewalls thereof. Shaft 90 passes through the openings92 located within each of the covers 88. Finally, the number corresponding to each of the racing figurines 76 is displayed on the inside of each cover 88.

As will now be apparent, as the figurines 76 enter the finish gate 14 they drop into the stalls. The weight of the figurine 76 on the bottom shelf 78 causes same to rotate, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in turn raising the cover 88 designating the winner and the remaining order of finish. 1

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the reciprocating movement of each strip 16 causes the racing figurine 76 positioned thereon to move forward step-by-step towards the finish gate 14.

I claim:

1. An amusement device, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of strips, means mounting said strips along the top surface of said frame for reciprocating movement, the underside of each of said strips being provided with first and second flanges, means resiliently biasing said strips toward one end of said frame;

motor means mounted within said frame;

a rod positioned within said frame transversely of said strips, means mounting said rod for rotation, a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from said rod, there being one finger disposed adjacent each first flange such that upon rotation of said rod the fingers will engage the respective first flanges to thereby move the associated strips in the direction opposite said one end of said frame, and upon further rotation of said rod, said fingers will move out of engagement with said respective flanges to allow the associated strips to move under the influence of said biasing means toward said one end of said frame, means operatively connecting said motor means and said rod for rotating same; shaft mounted to said frame, a plurality of gears, means mounting said gears for rotation about said shaft, said gears being provided with bearing sur faces offset from the center of said gears and corresponding to said second flanges of said strips, said second flanges being normally urged into engagement with said bearing surfaces by said means biasing said strips except when said first flanges are engaged by the respective fingers, and means operatively connecting said motor means and said gears for rotating same; and

figurines s'lidably positioned on said strips.

2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said fingers extending outwardly from said rod are arranged in staggered relationship such that as said rod rotates said fingers sequentially contact said first flanges of said strips resulting in the sequential reciprocation of said strips.

3. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said bearing surfaces of said gears are staggered such that the distances said second flanges of said strips travel under the influence of said means biasing said strips varies resulting in the continuous variation of the strokes of said strips.

4. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said bearing surfaces are circular in cross section, the centers thereof being offset from the centers of said gears. i 4 l 4 t 

1. An amusement device, comprising: a frame; a plurality of strips, means mounting said strips along the top surface of said frame for reciprocating movement, the underside of each of said strips being provided with first and second flanges, means resiliently biasing said strips toward one end of said frame; motor means mounted within said frame; a rod positioned within said frame transversely of said strips, means mounting said rod for rotation, a plurality of fingers extending outwardly from said rod, there being one finger disposed adjacent each first flange such that upon rotation of said rod the fingers will engage the respective first flanges to thereby move the associated strips in the direction opposite said one end of said frame, and upon further rotation of said rod, said fingers will move out of engagement with said respective flanges to allow the associated strips to move under the influence of said biasing means toward said one end of said frame, means operatively connecting said motor means and said rod for rotating same; a shaft mounted to said frame, a plurality of gears, means mounting said gears for rotation about said shaft, said gears being provided with bearing surfaces offset from the center of said gears and corresponding to said second flanges of said strips, said second flanges being normally urged into engagement with said bearing surfaces by said means biasing said strips except when said first flanges are engaged by the respective fingers, and means operatively connecting said motor means and said gears for rotating same; and figurines slidably positioned on said strips.
 2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said fingers extending outwardly from said rod are arranged in staggered relationship such that as said rod rotates said fingers sequentially contact said first flanges of said strips resulting in the sequential reciprocation of said strips.
 3. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said bearing surfaces of said gears are staggered such that the distances said second flanges of said strips travel under the influence of said means biasing said strips varies resulting in the continuous variation of the strokes of said strips.
 4. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said bearing surfaces are circular in cross section, the centers thereof being offset from the centers of said gears. 